St James Silo Art - Victoria

GrainCorp has yet again provided another blank canvas for the new silo art in St James, Victoria. The site was once filled with the sounds of trucks and played a major role in the community's economy. Now after laying dormant for a few years, again they are breathing life back into the community in a new way with Silo Art. The St James Silos are officially the 27th set of silos to be included in the Australian Silo Art Trail Collection.

History of Grain Corp in St James

The Grain Corp Silos at St James has a history dating back as far as the 1915-16 wheat season when 135,000 bags (405,000 bushels) was recorded as being delivered to the railway station. A record that was only exceeded once in the 1962-63 season when 421,439 bushels was delivered. This was an amazing achievement as transport was mostly by horse and wagon at the time.

More history followed when in December 1943 the St James Silo received its first bulk load. Two extensions were made also, one in 1955, a steel annexe and then in 1967 another steel bin was added.

The St James silos were eventually decommissioned.

The St James Silo Art - GJ Coles Story

In 1882 George Coles Snr married his wife Elizabeth and purchased his first store at the North Eastern St James. He soon opened a second store four miles away in Lake Rowan. They traded mainly farming equipment.

Elizabeth and George's first son was born in 1885 and following tradition, they named him George James. George and Elizabeth would have 10 children and all would attend school in St James. Tragically Elizabeth died in 1900 and in 1902 George sold his two stores and moved to Geelong.

But in 1905 George returned again and re-purchased the North Eastern St James and Lake Rowan stores. George James Jnr (GJ) helped his father in the store but left as he wanted to pursue new methods of shopkeeping. A year later with George's health fading, he sold the St James store to his son GJ Coles.

In 1913 GJ Coles sold his St James Store and went for a trip around the world to discover the best ways to run a business. In England he studied the Woolworths 3d and 6d stores and Marks and Spencers 1d stores.

Together with his brother Jim they opened their first 3d, 6d and 1 shilling store in Australia at 288 Smith Street, Collingwood. Sadly, Jim was killed in the first world war along with GJ's other brother Dave. GJ himself was wounded in France.

Upon his return GJ opened another store with another brother AW Coles at 172 Smith Street, Collingwood. From there the business grew from 100 pounds in 1914 to 1,132 million dollars in 1972. 

GJ Coles never forgot where he came from and returned many times to St James to visit family and friends.

The company Coles also made a generous donation towards the St James Silo Art Project.

About the Artist Tim Bowtell

This is the first silo art for Tim Bowtell but will definitely not be the last. Showing that he has extreme talent is this type of artwork he has already been commissioned to paint another silo in Colbinabbin, Victoria.

Tim also has other artwork in and around Benalla in Victoria including the Makoan Rest Area.

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